Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-29
fCoseissst fssa yesterdsy.)
DARING AND SUFFERING.
A History Of tho Andrew Railroad
Raid Into Georgia in 1852.
CHAPTER XIV.
A pAgrxf; ysrAPK planned.

From the very beginning of our fmprfs-
onment we had thought and planned about
escape A very hopeful scheme had been
filled at Chattanooga by the separation Of
the band when the twelve were sent TO
Knoxville Andrews and Wollam had
actually gotten outside the prison walls
the latter remaining at large for many
days. HOY 10 escape was one topic OF
conversation which never lost its interest.
We feI. that If once more In the open air
our chance Of reaching our lines in the
clear October weather and with the album
dant supplies in The fields. would be far
greater than in the spring. We went
over all the errors committed on hrst
leaving the train, and each gave all others
the benefit OF all the knowledge Of geog-
raphy be possessed.
But In many other respects we we're less
fayorably situated now for an escape than
we had ever been before. The distance
WAS greater to lie trayersesi. for Gen
Buell. had been forced back almost TO the
Ohio river. Our own number was dimin-
ished by death We were all weakened
by more than six months Of terrible i'm
prisonment, and some Of our best men
were too sick to take q yery active part IN
the struggle, while strong guard was
constantly on duty and we were IN
strongly barred and locked UPPER room in
the edge Of city which was almost m
the center Of the Confederacy.
But we resolved At every hazard TO
make an attempt II there should be the
slightest intimation Of an intention to
bring us before another court martial 1t
was better to die on the bayonsts OF the
guards than on the scaffold.
Long before this, when utterly wearied
with captivity, sc wrote letter to JET
ferson Dayis--siIll preserved in the gov
eminent Notwithstanding our case from
our own point Of view. This brought no
response More recently we wrote again
to Gen. Bragg. commanding the depart
ment In which we were. This had been
forwarded, step by step, to the president
Of the Confcderacy, bringing from him
savage question ~ TO why we had not all
been executed like our comradesi This
letter and its numerous Endorsements are
published In the War Records. We only
knew OF the danger It Indicated ut the
time Indirectly Our guard was strength
ened: the jailor was overheard b.
prisoner IN another room saying: "Thosc
OHIO men will soon all lie hungl'' The
commander Of the post, Col. Lee, visited
us and asked Of us almost the same ques-
ton Davis asked, as to the difference be-
tween our case and that Of our comrades,
aud urged great vigilance on the guards.
These things convinced MS that our only
chance Of life was by taking the matter
In our own hands. One plan proposed
was to try to get out secretly, at night,
by saving Off the bars Of our windows
and lowering ourselves, one 10y one, to the
ground The fatal objections to it were
thpt 1t required us to await dark night,
and even then it was scarcely possible
that more than one or two would get out
before an alarm was given | had no
hope from it.
But the other plan could not fail ifevery
man did his exact duty, and we were now
so we'll acquainted that We had perfect
confidence In each other. 1t was simply
to attack our foes in broad daylight
When our food was brought in the after
noon, and the door opened, we could rush
out, setting and holding perfectly quiet
the jailer and his assistant, threatening
them with dlath il they moved, unlocking
all the doors so that We might have the
assistance Of all the prisoners, aud then
charge upon the seven soldiers below, dis
possessing them Of their mrskets in the
first rush; and If this was done without
room and gag them thorc. 1t was not
likely, however that we would be able to
keep everything quiet CROUCH for this; in
which case we were 10 run as soon as an
alarm was raised for we knew that there
was n strong reserve close by. and did not
feel able to reckon with any more than the
seven rebels on hand.
In such an attack, the element of time
nf
SO that there is no confusion and hesita
ton, are of vital Importance, We ar
ranged with the utmost nicely. Capt.
Fry was to begin the movement, for he
was the oldest, and we gave him the post
OF honor; ! was to stand by and help him
with the jailer and the Waterman Thoer,
II the latter was on hand, as he usually
was; probably was given this place from
the correct view that with my poor eyes
| would be OF more service in Il scufile in
the hall than in the glaring light outside.
Then Butlum, who was as agile ms IL cat,
WIS to snatch the keys, and. waiting for
nothing else. to open all the doors above
There were three and the fitting of keys
from the bunch under such excitement
was likely to make this take some time
| think no one of MS felt that Buffum had
a desirable office. But it was desirable to
to have all the prisoners released if only
to distract the pursuit All the others
were arranged into two bands with lead
ers, to slip down the stairway at the pro-
per time and break out on the guards at
the front and rear doors simultaneously
Then quickness, courage and desperation
were to be pitted against loaded muskets
aud bayonets and the issue left to the
God of battles.
We had also chosen our comrades and
routes. We were to travel in pairs and
In every direction. Capt Fry was to be
my partner, and all the rest considered
that | was fortunate, for he would he at
home in the Cumberland mountains. to-
ward which we were to journey. The
intended course was marked out for each
couple and everything done to forward
the movement on which we believed de
pended our last chance ef escaping the
gallows. We did not forget to make most
earnest supplications in prayer, and to
vow, In the old time manner, that we
would render faithful service to the Lord
of Hosts il he would aid us in this great
emergency.
1t was afternoon when we received the
intelligence which determined our action
and we could not very well be ready to
the following afternoon. We patched our
shoes "a well as we could, and made cloth
moccasiEs to protect our feet, for many
shoes we're worn out. We gave messages
to each other beginning with the form,
"lf you get out and | do not"--for we
could not tell who would he the fortunate
ones in the effort, or how many might
fail We had a strong conviction Of sue
cess, but whether seven guards would
allow their muskets to be taken without
using bullet or bayonet against some Of
their assailants with fatal effect, seemed
more than doubtfull | have made ready
for battle more than once. but never had
SO deep and solemn a realization of the
uncertainty Of the issue as on this occa-
sion.
CHAPTER XIV